Earwax (cerumen) coats and protects the inside of your ears

Earwax (cerumen) coats and protects the inside of your ears

Earwax (cerumen) coats and protects the inside of your ears; it does not usually need to be removed. Removal is only necessary when you develop large amounts of earwax, which make your ears feel blocked. Too much earwax can develop due to a very narrow or abnormally shaped ear canal, frequent use of earplugs, cleaning ears with cotton buds or for other unknown reasons. Often home treatment can remove earwax. If home treatment does not work, you should make an appointment to see a qualified professional.

A comprehensive medical history will be taken. Microscopic examination of the inner ear canals and ear drums gentle removal of the earwax with a surgical microsuction unit. The pharmacist will wear a pair of illuminated microscopes, namely “loupes”, and air will be heard rushing through the suction wand during the procedure. There may be an occasional mild ‘pop’ as the wax is sucked through the probe. Generally, the appointment will be painless.

What is microsuction ear wax removal?

Ear wax and your hearing ear wax is a naturally occurring substance in healthy ears, but it’s quite common for wax to build up in the ear canal and can impair hearing. How do I know if I need ear wax removal? Sometimes you may not even know you have a wax build up or you may have a feeling of fullness in your ears, or you may have difficulty hearing. You can visit any bay audiology clinic, and we can look into your ear and tell you if you have wax that needs removing. Some people build up wax very quickly and require regular wax removal.

If ear drops or ear irrigation do not work, other options include: microsuction, which is a quick and comparatively painless treatment involving a small device which sucks out the wax from your ear. This is usually a safe option even if you have a damaged ear drum. An aural toilet uses a thin instrument with a hoop at one end to clean your ear and remove the wax.

We have a team of consultant ENT surgeons, who provide a comprehensive service for patients who suffer from impacted ear wax or other types of ear-related conditions. You will be offered an appointment at the earliest convenient date for you. During your initial consultation you will be seen by a consultant, who is specifically trained and has experience of performing microsuction clearance. You will be able to explain your medical history and any concerns you might have with the surgeon who would be performing the microsuction clearance.

Unlike ear syringing and ear irrigation, it is safe for people who have a perforated eardrum, previous infections or an ear blockage. The reason is that microsuction safely removes wax using pinpoint accuracy, rather than pushing anything into the eardrum.

What to expect from Ear Microsuction

The procedure is traditionally performed by ENT doctors or nurses via the NHS using high-magnification binocular operating microscopes, although there is a growing number of private audiologists and hearing aid dispensers in the uk now also performing microscopic and microsuction ear wax removal using magnifying glasses (loupes). Loupes are limited in the terms of both the magnification and distance (depth) of view they can provide inside the ear. However they remain popular due to their portability and relative inexpensive compared to an operating microscope. Both operating microscopes and loupes provide stereoscopic vision which aids depth perception.

Microsuction is a safer and more effective alternative to ear syringing, conducted using a high-powered microscope and delicate instruments to vacuum the ear.

Ear wax removal by microsuction the procedure

Earwax is naturally occurring and serves an important purpose. On occasion earwax can build in the ear canal and can cause hearing loss or discomfort. For many people, microsuction offers a quick and long-lasting solution to hearing loss. Years of excess wax build up can be gently removed - providing an immediate improvement to their quality of life. It helps to protect and clean the inside of the ear by creating a natural protective layer. Other wax removal treatments such as syringing often completely clear the canal of all wax, leaving no protective layer inside the ear. Microsuction is a much more controlled treatment which allows your audiologist to carefully remove excess wax whilst preserving a necessary level of protection.

Micro-suction ear wax removal is one of the safest methods of ear cleaning and it is an ideal method of wax removal for people who have had a perforation to their eardrum or who have had any mid-ear surgery. Microsuction uses no water for the ear wax removal and there is no mess and little fuss. 

You have probably been troubled by wax / infection / debris in your ears. Following discussion with your doctor he has advised micro suction or manual clearance of the wax / infection / debris. Micro suction is the removal of wax / infection / debris using a small suction tube and a fine suction end. This can be a bit noisy and whilst having the procedure you will need to keep as still as possible unless asked to move slightly. This is important as the doctor or nurse doing the procedure could accidentally injure the ear canal or your eardrum if you move without warning.

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